Saurav Chowdhary, Director, Smato Technologies, shares insights into the company’s role as a curator of premium, design-driven global brands in India. He discusses Smato’s unique approach to blending high-performance technology with architectural aesthetics, along with the latest innovations from partners like Basalte, DALI, Amina, and Architettura Sonora that are redefining luxury smart living.
Could you briefly introduce Smato and its role in bringing premium global brands to the Indian Market?
At Smato, we see ourselves as more than just a distributor; we are selective curators of design-led technology. Since our start in 2019, our mission has been to bridge the gap between world-class global brands and the sophisticated Indian luxury market.
We don’t believe in being ‘brand collectors.’ Instead, we handpick a portfolio of partners that share our philosophy of integrating high-performance technology with architectural aesthetics. We currently represent a prestigious range of brands, including Basalte, Amina Invisible Speakers, Architettura Sonora, Dali, CANVAS H-Fi, etc.
Our role is to provide these brands with a complete ecosystem for success in India, utilising our flagship experience studios and an extensive network of high-end dealers to ensure they reach the right audience. Ultimately, we act as the strategic partner that ensures a brand’s global prestige and performance are translated perfectly for the Indian consumer.
What are the latest product offerings from global brands such as Basalte, Architettura Sonora, Amina and Dali?
This is an exciting time for our portfolio, as several of our key partners have recently launched products that fundamentally change how we think about home integration and high-fidelity sound.
We are seeing a major shift at Basalte toward making the home truly intelligent rather than just automated.
- AI & ChatGPT Integration: We are now integrating AI into the entire Basalte ecosystem. This allows you to literally talk to your home using natural language – whether in English, Hindi, Gujarati, or Kannada. Soon, updates to premium touchscreens like Ellie will allow full voice control with zero additional programming. Most importantly, this is backwards compatible, so our users and clients can benefit from these upgrades.
- Matisse Keypad: This is a beautiful new addition inspired by the French artist Henri Matisse. It’s a push-based keypad that balances classical elegance with soft lines. Notably, it is Basalte’s first wireless keypad (available in both KNX and Casambi), making it a versatile choice for both new builds and retrofits.
- Miro Pro Remote: We’ve also introduced the Miro Pro, which is a complete reinvention of the luxury remote. It features a larger, bolder screen and backlit buttons, blending modern luxury with an incredibly intuitive tactile experience.
We’ve recently signed CANVAS Hi-Fi, a Danish brand that represents a beautiful blend of high-end engineering and bespoke design.
- Architectural Integration: It matches the exact size of your TV (available for all 55” to 85” models) and can be floor-mounted, wall-mounted, or placed on an elegant floor stand. With 13 finish options—including Danish Kvadrat fabrics and wooden slats—it’s as much a piece of furniture as it is a high-fidelity system.
- Technical Excellence: It features high-end speaker construction, advanced room correction, and BACCH 3D crosstalk cancellation.
DALI has just launched the SUB V-16F. It is the first DALI product to be THX Certified Dominus, the highest performance tier available. With a 16-inch driver, it’s a bloody powerful addition to any cinema. They have also launched the new SONIK Series, which represents the most significant evolution of their accessible Hi-Fi range in over a decade. Building on the OBERON legacy, the seven-model SONIK series brings technology from the flagship KORE series – specifically the patented SMC™ magnet system and Clarity Cone™ drivers – to a much wider audience. It delivers ultra-low distortion and a level of realism in music and film that was previously reserved for much higher price points.
Architettura Sonora, in collaboration with Margraf Innovation Lab, has introduced the IPOGEO ‘Back to Nature’ line. This finish, currently exclusive to the CUBE_400 TEN, uses marble to literally ‘breathe’ sound. Additionally, their Klondike Collection offers a sophisticated multi-layered metallic coating over their signature concrete and stone bodies.
Celebrating 25 years, Amina has launched the Sapphire Series, setting a new benchmark for invisible audio. Using Symphony Cell technology, these speakers produce warm, natural tones while remaining completely hidden behind plaster, wood, leather, or even marble.
Audio plays a significant role in enhancing the smart home experience. How do premium audio brands like Amina, Architecture Sonora, Dali, and CANVAS HiFi complement the broader home automation ecosystem?
Beyond just ‘playing music,’ premium audio acts as the sensory soul of a smart home. These brands complement the automation ecosystem by solving specific lifestyle and design challenges:
Eliminating Architectural Annoyances: A major hurdle in smart homes is ‘tech-clutter.’ CANVAS Hi-Fi solves this by matching the exact size of the TV and eliminating the need for an external ‘black box’ subwoofer (down to 30 Hz), while Amina disappears into the walls and ceilings entirely. This allows the automation to be powerful without compromising the interior design.
Expanding the Sensory Architecture: Automation shouldn’t stop at the door. Architettura Sonora allows us to extend the smart ecosystem into the landscape. By using natural materials like marble and terracotta, the speakers become acoustic sculptures that integrate with outdoor lighting and sensors to create a seamless, automated environment.
The Emotional Layer of Scenes: When you trigger a ‘Movie’ or ‘Relax’ scene, it’s the high-fidelity performance of DALI’s SONIK series or CANVAS Hi-Fi’s BACCH 3D crosstalk cancellation that makes that scene feel immersive. High-end audio ensures the experience matches the precision of the automation.
What products, technologies, or brand solutions did Smato showcase at Smart Home Expo 2026?
This year at Smart Home Expo, we created our most ambitious and immersive showcase to date. We were live at Booths F20 and F05, where we created a fully immersive environment to showcase the future of intelligent living.
Here are the breakthrough solutions we featured:
- The Basalte Intelligence Ecosystem: At the heart of our exhibit was the complete Basalte experience. We moved beyond simple control into true ambient intelligence:
- AI-Powered Ellie: Visitors saw the world-first integration of ChatGPT within the Ellie touchscreens, allowing for natural language control in any regional languages.
- New ‘Matisse’ Keypad: We debuted the Matisse line—Basalte’s first wireless keypad—offering a stunning blend of French-inspired design and smooth, intuitive touch.
- Miro Pro Remote: Visitors got hands-on with the latest reinvention of the luxury remote, featuring a bolder, backlit interface.
- Adelante: Visitors experienced the luxury video door phone that redefines the entrance to the home.
High-Fidelity & Designer Audio:
- DALI Flagship Cinema: In Booth F05, we pushed the boundaries of acoustic engineering with a dedicated high-end home theater and stereo setup featuring DALI’s premium loudspeakers for breathtaking precision.
- CANVAS Hi-Fi: We showcased multiple setups of this Danish luxury soundbar, demonstrating how it matches your TV size exactly and delivers deep bass (down to 30 Hz) without needing a visible subwoofer.
- Architettura Sonora & Amina: We displayed the sculptural Cylinders, Cubes, and Spherina series from AS, alongside Amina’s Sapphire Series, which stays completely invisible behind premium wall finishes.
- 1Sound: We also featured 1Sound, bringing professional-grade audio performance to our high-end setups.
The Foundation of Automation: To ensure these front-end experiences are flawless, we showcased the robust backbone that powers a reliable smart home:
EAE Technology: Full-scale KNX home automation solutions, demonstrating both powerful backend control and elegant frontend interfaces.
FS Cables: The literal foundation of the system, featuring high-performance KNX and speaker cabling designed for the most demanding luxury projects.
Visitors at Booths F20 and F05 saw how we harmonize these global technologies into a single, seamless experience. They were pleasantly surprised by what the future of living looks like!
Tell us about your association with Smart Home Expo over the years and how the platform has helped connect with system integrators and partners.
We have been proud leading sponsors and partners of the Smart Home Expo since 2022, and it has truly become a cornerstone of our growth strategy in the Indian market. For us, the Expo is more than just a trade show; it is a vital annual gathering where the entire industry comes together to appreciate and celebrate the incredible work being done in India.
The platform has been instrumental in allowing us to network deeply with our existing partners while forging new alliances with forward-thinking system integrators. It serves as a unique bridge that makes end customers more aware of industry-wide advancements, helping them understand how complex global technologies can actually simplify their daily lives. By bringing together architects, designers, and tech experts under one roof, the Smart Home Expo creates a powerful synergy that ensures luxury and intelligence go hand-in-hand, reinforcing our role as a strategic curator for the next decade of growth.
